A normal user's look into the world of 3D Stereo Technologies

The new top model mobile GPU based on the Kepler architecture from Nvidia has been officially announced – the GeForce GTX 680M. The new GPU marks a very significant improvement in terms of performance compared to the already announced Series 600 mobile GPUs based on Fermi/Kepler architecture as well as compared to the previous top model – the GTX 580M. The GeForce GTX 680M comes with 1344 CUDA Cores, up to 720 MHz GPU clock and with 2GB GDDR5 at up to 1800 MHz video memory and 256-bit memory bus. The previous top model GTX 675M was Fermi-based and comes with 384 CUDA cores much like the GTX 580M. According to Nvidia the new GTX 680M is up to 80% faster than the previous-generation flagship model, the GTX 580M in terms of performance that you get, making it an ideal solution for gamers and especially for gamers willing to play in stereoscopic 3D mode on a laptop using 3D Vision.

In fact the GTX 680M offers very similar specifications to the desktop GTX 670 GPU and the performance you get should be very similar as well, all that within a TDP of about 100W (according to unofficial information). The first laptops to feature the new GeForce GTX 680M GPU along with 3D Vision 2 support and a 3D-capable display would apparently be the Alienware M17x that would be available with either Nvidia Optimus technology or Nvidia 3D Vision technology as an option. Sadly having both Optimus and 3D Vision support on a single laptop is still a problem due to the way the Optimus tech works together with the integrated Intel graphics processor.

Alienware has updated its gaming laptops with the new Nvidia GeForce 600M series graphics, so now you can configure your Alienware M14x, Alienware M17x and Alienware M18x. Starting with GeForce GT 650M graphics available on Alienware M14x, GeForce GTX 660M or GTX 675M on Alienware M17x and Alienware M18x where you can also have a dual GeForce GTX 675M in SLI. Now, in theory this means higher performance, lower power consumption and less heat, however in practice this may not be exactly like that. Have in mind that the GTX 675M is based on a revised Fermi 40 nm architecture while the GTX 660M is currently the fastest mobile GPU based on the new Kepler 28 nm architecture, so in order to get less power consumption and heat you might want to go for the 660M instead of the 675M GPU as in terms of performance between the two the difference should not be that significant. You can check out the full specifications of the new series 600 mobile graphics from Nvidia to see what are the differences between the latest Nvidia mobile GPUs.

The important model from the Alienware product range is the Alienware M17x that has an option for stereoscopic 3D support using a 120Hz LCD panel and 3D Vision. Have in mind that that model also has an configurable option for AMD Radeon HD 7970M GPU and that does not include stereo 3D support. If you want to get the Alienware M17x laptop with a 120Hz LCD display and 3D capability you’d need to go for either the GeForce GTX 660M graphics and a basic stereo 3D-capable setup with that GPU will cost you at least $1899 USD. For a stereo 3D-capable Alienware M17x using the GeForce GTX 675M graphics the starting point is $2499 USD, that is with the minimum specs ensuring 3D Vision support for the system, you can go higher if you go for more extras and higher specs. If you want to get a 3D-capable gaming laptop with dual GeForce GTX 675M video cards in SLI you might want to check out Maingear Titan 17 3D gaming laptop as currently Alienware only offers such configuration in their bigger and non 3D-capable M18x model.